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All Blacks flanker to remain in SA after neck injury

Oct 09 2018

"We showed great respect to the Boks, but both teams have got great respect for each other".

"He was injured late in the first half", Page explained to reporters.

"I am proud that the talent is coming through and we are close to matching a team like New Zealand because there has been one or two points difference in the last three matches we played in Cape Town‚ Wellington and Pretoria‚" he said.

The Boks made the brighter start to the second period and within four minutes they grabbed the lead after fullback Willie le Roux, playing his 50th Test, scythed through a gap and Kriel finished the move with a fine break of his own. However, they lost after conceding two tries in the final five minutes of the match.

For New Zealand, it was a victory as satisfying as clinching the Rugby Championship title itself.

The momentum remained with the home side, though, and Kolbe stretched to dot the ball down on the line in the corner, with Pollard adding the hard conversion.

Then, after Ardie Savea had burrowed over, a nerveless Mo'unga waited until the clock had crept past 80 minutes before splitting the posts to convert the try and kill an epic game.

Springboks captain Siya Kolisi said "That's why they're the No. 1 team in the world".

"I think the rivalry between us is back because we have matches where we run onto the field and you don't know who is going to win‚" he said.

"It could have easily been one we let go and allowed them to win, but they dug in deep and refused to give up". "Never giving in. Keep knocking on the door".

"I have got to be so careful (about) saying positive things after a loss in South Africa".

Winger Rieko Ioane sped into the corner unmarked in the 62nd and New Zealand scored 19 points in the last 20 minutes while keeping the Springboks scoreless.

"There are young players who haven't been in a position where they are behind before".